DEFINITE DIRECTIONS FOR OPEN-AIR PREACHING

By Gawin Kirkham

[This article was taken from the book, "The Open-Air Preacher's Handbook"
written by Gawin Kirkham. Brother Kirkham was the Secretary of the Open-Air
Mission of London, England. The book was published in 1890 but has a timeless
message for street preachers of today.]

WE are told that "Open-air Preaching can only be learned
by doing it." No doubt that is in the main correct; as the art of swimming
can only be learned in the water. But as the swimmer can learn more readily
by a few plain directions- so the street preacher acquires his art more easily
when aided by the experience of others. It is hoped, therefore, that the
following HINTS will be found useful to those who desire to " purchase to
themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ
Jesus" (I Tim. 3. 13).

A Leader is Essential. -Some one should take charge of the meetings,
and choose the place, the hymns, and the speakers. It is not necessary that
he should be a practiced speaker, or a good singer; but he should be able
to arrange and control. It is desirable also to have a leader of the singing,
so that the preachers should not strain their voices in attempting high notes.

"Let all things be done decently and in order" (I Cor. 14. 40)

The Choice of a Place. -In villages, a preaching station is more easily
chosen than in towns. The village street or the village green may be occupied;
or a farmer will lend a field. But "field-preaching" is not now so popular
as in the days of Wesley and Whitefield. As a rule, it is desirable to be
so near the houses that those who do not care to come out may yet hear inside.
But in towns it is not desirable to select the busiest thoroughfares, unless
it be on Sunday, when there is less traffic. A side street just off the main
street is best. Large open spaces are not suitable, unless the helpers are
numerous and the singing attractive. A passage should always be kept clear
on the side-walk, so that foot-passengers may not be compelled to go into
the middle of the street." Let every one of us please his neighbour, for
his good, to edification" (Rom. 15. 2).

The Order of Service. -If the preacher is alone, like Jonah in Nineveh,
he may begin by reading a chapter from his Bible, choosing a familiar and
striking portion for this purpose. Or he may talk confidentially to two or
three children till the curiosity of the grown-up people is awakened, and
they gather round. Or he may hand a few tracts to the strollers and idlers,
and encourage them to come and hear. But if he has helpers, they had better
sing first. Then a brief lesson may be read, and a brief prayer offered.
But if the people are not likely to stay for reading and prayer, speaking
may begin after the first hymn. The addresses,as a rule, should be brief
-say ten minutes or a quarter of an hour- with singing between; and the meeting
limited to an hour. But the wise leader will not confine himself to any definite
order, as one of the charms of an open-air meeting is its freedom "Where
the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Cor. 3. 17).

Open-air Pulpits. -The kerbstone is a sufficient elevation when speaking
to a handful of people: but it is an immense advantage to stand on a stool
or chair, or raised platform, when speaking to an ordinary street crowd.
The speaker can thus spare his voice, and be better heard than when he is
on a level with the people. The common sense of street-preachers is sadly
lacking when they will not thus aid their voices by standing head-and-shoulders
above the people. Besides, this method is a Scriptural one: for we read in
the account of the great open-air meeting in "the street that was before
the water gate" in Jerusalem, that "Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of
wood, which they had made for the purpose," and thus " opened the book in
the sight of all the people; for he was above all the people" (Nehemiah 8.
4, 5). It is worthy of observation that that is the only place in the Bible
where a "pulpit" is mentioned; so that the street-preacher is fairly entitled
to its use on the best authority. " Jotham . . . stood in the top of Mount
Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried" (Judges 9. 7).

The Value of Helpers. -One of the most interesting sights to men and
angels is a solitary preacher, crying like John the Baptist in the wilderness,
"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3. 2). But it is
more to the preacher's comfort and the good of the work to have a band of
helpers. Some can sing; while others can give tracts. They help to gather
a crowd; to maintain order amongst the children; to keep the pavement clear;
and to cheer the preacher by their presence and their prayers. In commencing
a meeting, instead of standing behind, or at the side of the preacher, these
helpers should face him, so as to form part of the audience, and encourage
others to gather behind them. But, as a rule, they should not interfere with
a disturber, as that is better done by the leader; nor should they be allowed
to give tracts at the meeting while the service iasts. This latter course
sadly distracts the attention of the hearers, though it is a very common
proceeding on the part of kind and active helpers. Christians should be
encouraged to stand at open-air meetings, even if they cannot sing -ladies
especially. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5. I6).

The Art of Attraction. -The preacher has first to secure and then
to retain his hearers. As "music hath charms," good singing should be cultivated;
and the singers should understand that harmony and sweetness are far more
important than mere noise. Ladies render important service in street choirs.
Solos, duets, trios, and quartettes -may occasionally be introduced. But
the singing should be in harmony with the preaching, and not merely a pretty
performance to please the ear. It should be appropriate, lively, and abundant,
and entirely under the control of the leader of the meeting.

The distribution of Hymn-sheets is helpful in keeping a crowd together. The
exhibition of a picture or diagram is good by way of variety. Harmoniums
are the most common at open-air services; but a cornet is the most effective
for leading the singing. Prettily painted banners are pleasing to the eye;
and when they have on them the name of the church or mission from which the
workers come, are useful in directing the people where to worship inside.
A duplex lamp placed on a tripod is a great help in meetings after dark;
though a street lamp may be made to do duty where a special one cannot be
had. But these arts of attraction must be in harmony with the apostle's rule:
"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (I
Cor. 9. 22).

The Art of Preaching. -Whatever means may be used to draw the people
together, it will depend largely upon the preacher himself whether they are
retained. Cold, formal, measured, precise preaching will not do. Nor will
what may be called "a good sermon" indoors necessarily do outside. Life,
fire, and energy are essential, as the powder is essential to carry the shot.
There is an indefinable style needed for open-air preaching which can only
be acquired by practice. The preacher's temptation is to rely too much upon
impulse and surroundings, and so to neglect his studies. But if he is to
be successful he must study; and his studies must include books, and men,
and nature. The exhortation of Paul to Timothy is as important for the out-door
preacher as for the regular pastor- "Give attendance to reading, to exhortation,
to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee. Meditate upon these things,
. . . that thy profiting may appear to all (I Tim. 4. 13-15).

The Bible in the Street. -The preacher's chief weapon must ever be
the Word of God, wielded by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet the Bible must
be sparingly used in the street. The lesson may be read from it; but in
preaching, it is better to quote from it than to be perpetually giving chapter
and verse, especially if this involves turning over the leaves to look for
them. There is a powerful magnetism in the human eye; and rarely should the
preacher's eye be taken off his hearers if he wishes to retain his hold of
them. But the preacher who has the greatest knowledge of the Bible, and the
ability to quote appropriate texts correctly, other things being equal, will
be the most successful. It is a good thing to set young preachers to read
the lesson, as it encourages them afterwards to speak. Those who would bless
and save their fellow-creatures must heed the Lord's commission to Ezekiel:
"And thou shalt speak My words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether
they will forbear" (Ezek. 2. 7).

Voice Culture. -But while the Word of God is the preacher's chief
weapon, the human voice is the medium by which that weapon reaches the people.
How many books have been written on the art of speaking! -and yet how few
really effective speakers there are! The voice is soon injured in the openair
unless it is used with care. Generally the young preacher starts in too high
a key, and in too loud a tone. He forgets the oftrepeated advice

" Begin low, speak slow;
Aim higher, take fire."

Knowing this, John Wesley said to his preachers, "For God's sake, don't scream."
There is no doubt that the moderate and steady use of the voice out of doors
strengthens it, and also the chest of the speaker. Yet there are times when,
owing to some condition of body or of atmosphere, or both, the voice of the
most practiced speaker fails. It is then the height of folly to continue
using it. It should rest; and only by that process will it be regained. Or
if it becomes a little husky by speaking, it may often be recovered by singing,
taking care to sing that part which is easiest. Spurgeon has a valuable lecture"
On the Voice" in the first volume of his "Lectures to my Students."If preachers
would take the trouble to enunciate their words more distinctly, they would
speak with far less labour and with more effect. "Lift up thy voice like
a trumpet" (Isa. 58. 1).

The Cultivation of Reverence. -It is true that we do not go into the
streets to worship, but to proclaim the Gospel; nevertheless, if we are to
commend "ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor.
4. 2), there must be reverence in this open-air temple, as much as in a
consecrated building. This is best accomplished by realizing the Lord's presence.
"Lo, I am with you alway" (Matt. 28. 20). This realized presence prevents
the spirit of trifling and levity, which are, alas! far too common at open-air
assemblies, both on the part of the preacher and his helpers. It was this
realized presence which produced such a marvellous effect at the meeting
"in the street that was before the water gate," as described in Nehemiah
8. 6, when the people "bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their
faces to the ground."

There is another aid to reverence in the attitude of the preacher. How many
preachers fail to mark I Cor. 11. 4: "Every man praying or prophesying (i.e.
preaching), having his head covered, dishonoureth his head." This is a plain
direction, which should be adhered to except in very severe weather, or by
those who are liable to take cold easily. A further aid to reverence is the
attitude in prayer. Happily it is the custom almost universally for the preacher
and his helpers to uncover their heads during prayer; and this act is a sermon
in itself. There are so many disturbing elements out of doors that the promoters
should do all in their power to produce a becoming solemnity at street meetings.
"Let us exalt His Name together" (Psa. 34. 3).

How to Deal with Interruptions. -But with the best arrangements and
the wisest proceedings, interruptions will occur. If the police interfere,
it is more seemly to give way than to have a dispute by standing on our rights."
If a thoroughfare is blocked, the police may interfere by virtue of the authority
vested in them; but even if they are wrong, it is better for the preacher
to complain to their superiors than to contend with them in the presence
of a crowd, seeing he represents the Gospel of peace. If a householder complains,
however frivolous the objection, the police are bound to remove the preacher
on such complaint being made. He cannot legally be arrested, but he may be
summoned before a magistrate for resisting lawful authority. If a drunkard
interferes, it is generally useless to argue with him. The police should
protect the preacher by removing him; but sometimes a kind-hearted helper
may persuade him to walk away. If the interruption is by a Romanist or an
infidel, it means discussion; and if the preacher begins a discussion, there
is an end of the preaching. Men who have studied these questions in all their
bearings may discuss, for truth has nothing to fear from error; but the ordinary
preacher shows his wisdom by continuing his preaching, and declining discussion.
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore
wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10. 16).

"THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER" (Eccles. 12. 13). As the object
and end of preaching is the glory of God and the salvation of sinners, those
methods should be pursued which are most likely to bring about this end.
Prayer, Preaching, and Perseverance will work wonders by the blessing of
God. If one plan fails, another should be tried. Young preachers should not
be discouraged, for it may be some time before they can determine the question
whether the Lord means them to be open-air preachers or not. They should
be instant in season and out of season, seeking to pluck brands out of the
fire. Success is more likely to be attained by connecting the outdoor meeting
with an indoor one.

The direction is, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to
come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke 14. 23). And while some of the
seed (to change the figure) may fall by the wayside, or on stony or thorny
ground, some will fall into good ground, and bring forth fruit, even a
hundredfold (Matt. 13. 8). So-

" Out in the highways, out in the byways,
Out in the dark paths of sin,
Go forth, go forth with a loving heart,
And gather the wanderers in! "

The following was written in the album of a lady who was slighted by some
of her friends because she played the harmonium and sang at open-air services:

Go on shine errand, singing for the Lord,
Making rich melody with heart and voice;
Gather thy message from His holy Word,
And, hoping in the Word, do thou rejoice.
Some may despise thee, some may heed thee not,
And others be in doubt of what is right;
But whether thou be heeded or forgot,
Heed thou thy Master- "Go in this thy might!"
When thrones, and principalities, and powers
Are scattered to the winds for evermore,
A record of these consecrated hours
Shall greet thee on the ever-shining shore.
earless then go, with a glad heart and free!
The Gospel message carry far and wide;
The pleasure of the Lord thou yet shalt see,
Ile in thy work shall yet be glorified.